Axis-Shield UK

Axis-Shield was created in May 1999 by the merger of two innovative healthcare diagnostics companies - Norwegian-based Axis Biochemicals, founded in 1985 and UK-based Shield Diagnostics, founded in 1982.

The business was augmented in November 1999 by the acquisition of Medinor ASA, providing Axis-Shield with a Norwegian distribution capacity to match its direct sales operation in its other home territory in the UK.

Further strategic growth was achieved by the acquisition of the diagnostics business of Nycomed Pharma in February 2000, which has given the group a focus in Point-of-Care (PoC) testing as well as direct distribution in Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The latter offices have now been integrated into Medinor's pan-Nordic operations.

The company also has a subsidiary in Bridport, UK, called Plasmatec, which specialises in IVD's for developing countries.

The combined group now consists of laboratory and Point-of-Care businesses backed by a strong R&D division. With solid revenues from OEM, local distributors and direct selling operations, Axis-Shield can now justifiably claim to be an important global force in diagnostic innovation.

The company has recognised that a major outlet for its novel analytes is via OEM agreements with global platform suppliers such as Abbott, Bayer, Roche and Dade Behring. It is also aware that the domination of the multinationals has not occurred in point-of-care diagnostics, so it has invested significant resource into the development of a CLIA-waiverable doctor's office system called AFINION, and this was launched at MEDICA in November 2004.

Axis-Shield is active in several key clinical areas where the development of suitable diagnostics is acknowledged to have a potential beneficial effect on outcomes.

KEY CLINICAL AREAS -

• CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
• CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE AND DEMENTIA
• RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
• ALCOHOL-RELATED DISEASE
• DIABETES
• INFECTIOUS DISEASES
• VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

Browse All Axis-Shield UK Products (see all)